The Minister for the Environment, Agriculture and Sustainability, Silvia Calvó, opened this Wednesday the Side Event, organised jointly by the Government of Andorra, with Georgia and Jamaica, to explore and debate the challenge posed by the effect of climate change on mountain populations. The event, within the framework of the COP25 hosted by Madrid under the presidency of Chile, was entitled ‘Building resilience of mountain communities: data and science for policy action’ and coincided with the celebration of the International Mountain Day.
During her intervention, Calvó recalled that the latest scientific studies show a direct effect on mountain ecosystems due to climate change, which prove to be very vulnerable areas.
Consequently, international, regional and national research as well as collaboration between research institutions and public administration is essential to design strategies and actions to cope with climate change, to mitigate it or to adapt to future changes. It is also essential for the data collected to be very accurate and to enable concrete action to be taken imminently. Hence, the collaboration of the FAO Mountain Partnership is highly welcomed, as well as the economic impetus needed for the Mountain Partnership.
Calvó recalled the need to give response to climate change in a collaborative way to change patterns of energy consumption and enhance new sources of energy, new modes of transport, production and treatment of waste, loss of biodiversity and management of natural waste.
Marc Pons, representing Actua Innovació and the Institut d’Estudis Andorrans, stressed that Andorra wants to go one step further and is promoting collaboration between actors in research and innovation, public administration, the private sector and citizens.
Text: Govern d’Andorra
